Mayors Applaud New Senate Energy Bill Backing Local Energy Efficiency Initiatives

 

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire

 

The United States Conference of Mayors, led by President and Trenton, NJ Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, today applauded leaders in the United States Senate for introducing legislation that will help cities accelerate their energy efficiency efforts, leading to more aggressive programs to reduce greenhouse gases nationwide.

Mayor Palmer and the Conference worked closely with Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), as well as Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) to ensure that this new energy measure (S. 1115) includes specific language that supports cities' efforts to build upon their growing grassroots initiatives aimed at reducing energy use and curbing carbon dioxide emissions.

Mayor Palmer also praised the leadership of key Senators on the legislation, "As former mayors, Senators Menendez and Sanders understand that a successful plan for reducing our energy use and greenhouse gases begins in cities and other communities all across the country. We thank Senator Bingaman for advancing the Conference's top legislative priority."

Today, more than 460 mayors have signed the Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; these mayors and others are already taking action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels. "This new legislation is a giant step forward in bringing additional resources to bear on this monumental challenge before our nation and the planet," added Palmer.

In January, Mayor Palmer unveiled a 10-Point Plan, Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America, that called upon Congress to enact an Energy and Environmental Block Grant, modeled after the highly successful Community Development Block Grant. The new legislation now pending before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee provides new federal funding directly to Mayors, County Executives and Governors to support programs that improve community energy efficiency, helping the nation curb its energy dependency and thereby reducing carbon dioxide.

"This is the first time Congress has acted directly in response to the calls from mayors to support our local efforts on climate protection. This legislation marks the beginning of a broader national agenda of empowerment of local efforts to make our communities greener, healthier and more sustainable," said Mayor Palmer.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.

SOURCE United States Conference of Mayors

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